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From Owino to Hollywood: The Journey of Agnes Ahebwa, a Ugandan Makeup Artist

How hard work, determination, and a love for makeup can open doors of opportunities

Meet Agnes Ahebwa, also known by her alias Agy, an accomplished makeup artist from Uganda who has spent over a decade in the industry, working with top celebrities like Joanita Kawalya, Rachael Magoola, Sheebah, Sheila Gashumba, and Vinka among others. Her journey in the makeup industry wasn’t as daunting as most, because she already had a background in makeup. Her love for makeup began in 2001 when she started doing makeup for women in Owino market where her mother worked at the time. “I met this lady called Rachel and told her about wanting to start out in makeup, and she told me to watch and learn from her,” she recalls.

Agy’s big break came when she was hired as the only Ugandan makeup artist for the movie “Queen of Katwe.” She got the job through the help of Mr. Wawuyo, who was the location manager and Special Effects coordinator in Uganda. At the time, her profile was fairly impressive, having worked with a few celebs like Sheebah, and TV hosts on stations such as NTV & NBS. Despite having a car accident on the day she submitted her CV, she was still able to submit it thanks to Mr. Wawuyo’s encouragement. “The day I was submitting we had an accident with my son, our car was completely destroyed as I was taking my son to school, Mr. Wawuyo reached out and he told me to get out of the hospital and submit my CV,” she says.

After a Skype call with the Head of the Makeup department of the movie, Agy was hired. She worked for one month on the set and later moved to New Vision, where she worked on the Coffee Shop Show for two seasons. Her hard work paid off and she started getting real gigs, so she decided to leave and start concentrating on solo gigs all around Uganda. ‘I don’t over charge people in up country because it’s not necessary in my opinion over charging people when you can give them the standard price,’’ she says.

However, due maternity leave, and a few health complications she had to lose a few of her celebrity clients. She had to take long breaks which, in essence, wouldn’t favour the needs and demands of some of them. Her plan is to win back all her clients, especially Sheila Gashumba, whom she considers a little sister. She describes her as ‘a very sweet soul’. “On my birthday, she posted on her page and said, ‘I met someone who knows my face perfectly,’ and she credited me, she gives you your flowers when you’re still alive. Whenever the internet comes hard on her it hurts me because I know her as sweet girl,” she adds.

She lost two of her Instagram accounts to hackers, including one with over 50k followers. However, she did not let this deter her as she has most of her old clients’ contacts in her receipt books. She is also trying to learn new tricks now that the tricky barrier of pregnancy and early motherhood is passed. Her plan to get back her old clients involves having a good environment that is posh, having all she needs in one place, and getting a new client that knows a lot of people.

Agy with the Afrigo band team

Agy also does weddings and prefers local clients who can pay her well. She believes that the middle class has money and can give it away more than the posh rich people who don’t easily give away money. According to her, the biggest challenges in the makeup industry are competition and lack of authenticity. She has experienced sabotage from other makeup artists who don’t believe in working together yet it would help all of them in the long run. Her story is a testament to how hard work, determination, and a love for makeup can open doors of opportunities. She is an inspiration to many young girls who want to pursue a career in the makeup industry.

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Agy is nominated in the Hair and Beauty Awards in the category of ‘Special Effects Makeup Artist of The Year’.

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